Bus driver who paid for taxi for 'upset' schoolgirl praised on social media

A bus driver who was hailed a hero after he helped a girl who was late for her first day at school because she missed her bus has said "it's all in a day's work".

The driver, who only wanted to be known as Dave, said he has been "surprised and overwhelmed" by the social media response to his actions.

He halted his number 16 First West Yorkshire Bus in Leeds on Tuesday morning to call and pay for a taxi for the girl who looked "clearly upset" as she stood on the wrong side of the road.

Lynsey Jayes, 33, one of the passengers on the bus, shared a post on Facebook about the driver's generous actions which has received thousands of likes.

Dave, who is 44 and has worked for First Bus for almost three years, said: "I didn't give it a second thought, to be honest. I could see that the girl was upset at possibly being late for her first day at big school, so I asked the passengers on the bus to bear with me while I tried to help her out.

"As a parent myself, I would like to think that other people would do the same and go the extra mile for my daughter, so I was just pleased to be able to help. The passengers were great and helped by providing a taxi number.

"I've been surprised and overwhelmed by the response on Facebook, and in the media, but it's all in a day's work at First Leeds. We're here to help people make their journeys and provide whatever other assistance we can."

Ms Jayes, who had been taking her children to school, said on Tuesday: "I heard the driver saying 'are you okay there?' Then he got out the cab, so we all began to get a bit curious to what was going on.

"Outside there was a young girl clearly upset, she looked to be about 11/12 perhaps. He spoke to her outside for a few minutes, then as he walked back on the bus he was saying to her 'don't worry, we will get you to school on time'."

The mother-of-five added the driver then asked the passengers for a taxi number and arranged with the firm for the schoolgirl to be picked up from a nearby Tesco store. He then walked her to the shop and gave her enough money to cover the fare before returning back to the bus and apologising to the passengers for the delay.

She added: "When he came back he joked that we should keep quiet so people don't think he's gone soft."

Hundreds of comments have been left on Ms Jayes's post by people praising the driver.